Cycle.



No. 689,970. Patented Dec. 3l, I90l.

' C. L. HDRACK.

cYcLE.

(Application led Eeb; 26, 1901.)

(No Model.)

nuunlllllnliupl Unwritten STATES CHARLES L. llORACK,

PATENT @Enrica OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CYCLE.

SFEGFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,970, dated December31, 191

Application tiled February 26, 1901- Serial No. 48,947. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. HoRAcK, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of New York, in the county of Kings and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cycles, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention refers to vehicles of various kinds, and more particularlyto such as bicycles and tricycles which may be propelled by the personseated or mounted thereon or by any suitable motor, biles.

As all the improvements invented by me are especially applicable tocycles and as their construction and operation can be illustrated andexplained in connection with cycles,l will in the followingspecification and in the drawings accompanying the same make referenceparticularly to cycles, without, however, limiting my invention and itsapplication to this particular class of vehicles.

The objects of my invention are to provide means for neutralizing orreducing the shocks imparted to a cycle owing to the roughness of roadsand its meeting with obstructions iu general and to protect the rideragainst such shocks and reactions therefrom, also to provide suitablemeans for regulating and adjusting the action of cushioning meansemployed for such purpose, and also for protecting such cushioningmeans.

Further objects are to provide suitable means for joining twoframe-sections together, so as to make a wheel mounted upon one of saidsections movable with reference to the other frame-section.

1 accomplish these and other useful objects by the means hereinafterdescribed, and set forth more particularly in the claims.

My improvements are of particular use in connection with the meansusually employed for mounting the front fork of a bicycle within thesteering-head forming part of the seatframe, and the accompanyingdrawings illustrate such parts in their proper relative positions andembodying my improvements.

In said drawings, wherein like letters and figures of reference refer tocorresponding parts, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the steering-headand ofa portion of the steering-fork and connecting parts. Fig. 2 is avertical thus including automot i the steering-head and connectingparts. Fig.

section of the device along the central longitudinal plane ot' thebicycle, while Fig. 3 is a cross-section along line 3 3 in Fig. 2, someportions being broken away. Fig. 4 is asection along line 4 4 in Fig. 2.Fig. 5 showsin vertical section modied means for guiding thesteering-post along and around the steering-head. Fig. 6 illustrates amodified detail of the pistou in ground plan, the lefthand portionshowing also a section through the piston-rod to which said piston isattached. Fig. 7 is abottom view of portion of 8 is a horizontalsect-ion of means for regulating flow of fluid in the cylinder, and Fig.9 a cross-section of the upper portion of the main cylinder whichcontains the piston and of connecting parts. Fig. 1 is drawn to asmaller scale, and Figs. 8 and 9 are drawn to a larger scale, than theremaining figures.

U is the upper main tube, L the lower main tube, and F the front fork,while [I represents the handles and handle-bars.

10 is a cylinder, preferably made integral with and extending upwardfrom crown-head 11, in which travels a piston l2, attached to tubularpiston-rod 13. The upper end of said rod is indicated by 14 and is ofhexagonal crosssection. 15 is a clutch rigidly attached to the lower endof tube 1G and engages with said hexagon. Tube 1G corresponds with theupper portion ofthe steering-post as now commonly employed, handle-barstem 17 being inserted in it and clamped to it at 18 and ball-bearingsbeing inserted at 19 between it andthe steering-head 20, allin the usualmanner, so as to permit of said tubes 16 and 2O revolving withoutsliding with reference to each other.

The lower portion of the steering-head is of greater diameter than theupper one, so as to accommodate within it cylinder 10, an annularshoulder 2l being provided where the widening takes place. 22 is abearingcup screwed to the lower end of said steeringhead, and 23 such acup secured to cup 22 by screws 21 and studs 25, the latter integralwith cup 23.

26 and 27 are sectional bearing-rings detachably secured by screw-threadto the cylinder 10, forming part of the sectional steering-post.Bearing-balls 2S are held at inter- IOO Vals in proper sockets betweensaid rings and are adapted to coact with upright grooves 29 on abearing-sleeve 30, which along its outer surface contains an annulargroove 31 for guiding, in conjunction with cups 22 and 23, balls 32. Cup23 extends underneath sleeve 30 and bearing-rings 26 and 27 to near thesteering-head, so as to guard against dust reachingballs 28. Byproviding detachable bearing-rings 26 and 271 avoid the necessity ofhardening the walls of cylinder 10 to obtain suitable innerbearingsurfaces for balls The bolting together of cups 22 and 23 permitsof the ready insertion of balls 28 after the steering-head has beenplaced in its proper position. f

By providing two separate sets of bearingballs near the lower end of thesteering-head and also the sleeve 30, adapted to travel along balls 28longitudinally with reference to said head and in contact with balls`32,so as to revolve with reference to cups 22 and 23, I provide for easyrelative movements of said steering-head and the lower part of thesteering-post in all directions.

By making bearings 22 and 23 and also bearings 26 and 27 adjustabletoward each otherv I am enabled to adjust balls 32 and 28 toward annularbearing 30 and to thus secure proper 'bearing contact for all said ballswithout being obliged to change the position or size of the intermediatebearingring 30.

In Fig. 5 a simple form of bearings is shown for performing similarfunctions, balls 28 being inserted between sleeve or bearing 26 and cups22 and 23', said balls being permitted to travel lengthwise along sleeve26' as well as around the same.

32 is a spiral spring interposed between the upper end of-the piston-rodand shoe 33, adjustable by means of screw-thread along a studV 34, whichis integral with a cap 35, detachably secured to the crown head. Bymeans ofshoe 33 the time or extent of the initial compression of saidspring may be regu- 36 is a perforated bell-shaped attachment integralwith the lower end of tube 13 and vcarrying outward-extending arms 37 inengagement with vertical guides 3S on the lower inner circumference ofcylinder 10. 39 is a conical spring interposed between said bell-Yshaped attachment and the bottom of said cylinder. Said spring is thusmaintained in its proper position, and ample space is provided for itwithout necessitating the lengthening of the cylinder for the purpose ofproperly mounting it therein. Upon actuating the handle-bars, andthereby revolving rpiston-rod 13, cylinder 10, owing to the arrangementof guides, as described, will, to-

gether with said piston-rod, be revolved withof the piston andpiston-rod with reference to the cylinder be guarded against. As thepiston-rod is closely guided within the stui1 ing-box, this contributesmaterially toward such steadiness, and by placing the guides on thepiston and piston-rod as far as practicable from the stuffing-box, andtherefore on the side of the piston farthest removed from saidstufng-boX, I best guard against lateral displacements of the piston andpiston-rod with reference to the cylinder.

Spring 32, as well as glycerin or other suitable liquid further referredto hereinafter, may be introduced through the opening controlled by cap35. Said cap might, however, be omitted, in which case the spring wouldhave to be introduced before the insertion of the piston in thecylinder, and a suitable plug with adjusting device for the spring mightbe provided then in the top part of tube 13.

Piston 12 comprises metal disk 40, integral with piston-rod 13 and bell36, somewhat vless in diameter than the bore of cylinder 2O and havingperforations 41 nearest to said piston-4 rod, a cap 42, made ofleather', rubber, or other suitable iexible material, and a washer 43,screwed to the piston-rod above said cap. Said washer isprovided withchannels 44, curving outward from tube 13, and with wings 45, which ontheir under sides substan tially conform with the surface of cap 42. Its

upper portion is constructed in the form of a heXagon, carrying acheck-valve 46 and its seat, said valve closing a perforation whichleads into the interior of tube 13 and held to its seat by a leaf-spring47. By so placing said valve and its seat upon a ring detachable fromtube 13 a much more perfect and convenient adjustment of said valve ispossible with reference to its seat. 48 is a screw for confining saidwasher in its proper position along the piston-rod. 49 is thestuffing-box of cylinder 10. When the front wheel strikes anobstruction, piston 12 will move downward with reference to cylinder 10.This would have a tendency to produce greater compression of the Iiuidunderneath the Apiston than above the same if there were not meansprovided for permitting such fluid to pass to the upper side of thepiston. Such means for then equalizing the duid-pressure in the cylinderconsist of the iexible outer and inner portions of cap 42, which as thepiston moves downward will become so deflected upward as to allow flowof. iuid upward between said cap and the cylinder and also throughperforations 41 and between the piston-rod and said cap and from therethrough channels 44, while when the4 piston rises again the resistanceof the fluid above it will force said edges of cap 42 back against thewalls of the cylinder and of the pistonrod, so as to again produce tightjoints there between said parts. Ribs 45 on washer 43,

as well as the solid portions of said washer IIO between channels 44,will guard against eX- cessive deflections of said cap in an upwarddirection.

Fluid-pressure within the piston while the latter is moving downwardwill be further relieved by the opening of check-valve 46, the pressureof spring 47 being only about strong enough to hold the valve to itsseat when the Huid-pressures on both sides of it are balanced.

Upon reaction and as the piston moves upward I permit of gradual returnof fluid to the under side of the piston through passages provided inthe wall of the cylinder, as follows: 50 is a groove of substantiallysquare crosssection on the inner surface of the cylinder, its sidesbeing made to conform to the curvature of the bore of the cylinder andit extending upward substantially as far as the piston can travel anddownward below the travel of said piston. Into this slot lits a stud 5lof corresponding general cross-section ,provided, however, along threeof its sides with grooves 52, 53, and 54, which are of differentcrosssections. Any one of these grooves when placed in a position facingthe piston-rod will furnish a return-passage for the fluid directlyadjoining the travel of the piston. By alternately placing differentsuch grooves in the proper operative positonvthe area of thereturn-passage to be so provided can be properly modified, while whenthe smooth side of the stud is turned inward no return-passage will thenexist in that part of the cylinder. The lower portion of said studcomprises around shank 55, fitting closely a stuffing-box 56 in thebottom of the cylinder. Said shank is provided with a head 57, havingtwo channels 58 and 59 at right angles to each other and to thedirection of the stud. 60 is a pin engaging with one of said channelsand with lugs 6l 6l, extending downward from the bottom of the cylinderin such manner that thereby either side of stud 5l may be held facingthe piston. The upper end of said stud is pointed and engages with acorresponding recess in the wall of the cylinder for thepurpose ofaiding in conning it in its proper position. In Fig. 8, which shows asection through said stud at point 8 in Fig. 2 looking downward, itappears that the grooves therein are shallower below than above, thusproviding for a larger return-passage when the piston reaches itselevated position, thus allowing of freer play of the piston in theupper part of the cylinder. Said grooves may be enlarged eithergradually or abruptly.

62 and 63 are two annular flanges extending downward from the lower diskof the stuffing-box, each being provided with a series of perforations,64 being the perforations in the inner flange, and 65 those in the outerflange, the latter perforations communicating with an annular groove 66in the wall of the cylinder. 67 is a ring made of a porous andpreferably compressible substance, such as felt, which contains a seriesof minute channels closely fltting in between said flanges and held inposition and compressed as far as may be desired by means of an annulardisk 68, secured by screw-thread to flange 63. From groove 66 a passage69 extends downward within the wall of the cylinder, out of which leadsa slanting passage 70, communicating with the lower portion of theinterior of the'cylinder.

71 is a screw-stud extending upward into the lower enlarged portion ofpassage 69 through a suitable stuffing-box 72. Said stud is providedwith a groove 7 3, which by turning the stud may be either brought infull communication with passage 70 or may be made to communicate with itonly to a smaller extent or not at all, as may be desired.

When the cylinder is free from liquid or when only a small amount of thelatter is maintained therein, it will generally be sufficient to dependfor the return flow of air upon porous packing 67 between flanges 62 and63 and passage 69, connecting therewith. To properly adjust the returnflow of air in that case, the packing, if felt, sponge, or similarsubstance be employed, may be compressed by means of ring 68 to such anextent as will provide for air-passages through the same and betweenperforations 64 and 65 sufficient to permit of proper return iiow offluid as springs 32 and 39 are reacting. As the means for adjusting thecompression ofring 67are notreadily accessible, I utilize slotted stud71 for perfecting the adjustment with reference to the return flow ofair through passage 69. Stuffing-box 72 will prevent escape of fluidfrom the apparatus around the shank of screw-stud 7l in same manner asstuffing-box 56 will prevent such escape around shank 55.

As the capacity of cylinder lO is necessarily limited, it is veryimportant that no air be permitted to pass downward around the edges ofcup 42 whenthe piston is ascending and, further, that the flow of fiuidthrough valve 46 and along the return-passages above described beclosely regulated when the fluidpressure above the piston exceeds thatunderneath the same, and as the flow of liquid is much more easilycontrolled than that of air I prefer at all times while the piston isascending to maintain a body of liquid, preferably glycerin, oil, or thelike, above said piston and in the operative passage of stud 5l, as wellas above valve 46. In Fig. 2 the levels of liquid so employed for thepurposes stated are indicated by O O. Said levels under otherwise equalconditions may of course be varied by increasing or decreasing thequantity of oil in the cylinder. By placing guides :S7-and 38 Withinthat part of the body of the cylinder which contains the oil I providefor said guides a lubricant which is continuously in contact therewithwhile the piston is reciprocating within the cylinder, and I thus makeit possible to employ guides which fit each other very closely, therebysecuring very steady working of the device,

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.dinal movements.

particularly while the handle-bars are being actuated, Withoutinterfering with the freedom of said guides in their relative longitu-Where liquid is so ernployed in comparatively large quantities, andparticularly where such liquid is of considerable consistence, I forthe-purpose of passing the same from the top to the bottomiof the pistonmake use of one of the grooves' 52, 53, and 54:, the deeper groovesbeing used when quicker reaction of springs 32 and 39 is desired, and bymaking the upper portions of said grooves deeper than the lower ones itis possible to permit the piston to complete its upstroke more quicklythan would otherwise be the case in view of the heavy compression of airthat is apt to then take place above the piston.

73 represents balls,which together with cup 74E, attached to lthepiston-rod, and cup 75,

detachably and adj ustably secured by screws 76 to the interior ofshoulder 21, form a ballbearing which prevents upward movement of thepiston-rod within the steering-head and, besides, serves to steady saidpiston-rod.

By placing -the cushioning means in the lower portion of thesteering-head and underneath its shoulder 21 I provide for partlyneutralizing shocks imparted to the front Awheel before they can beimparted to the seat-frame.

In Fig. 6 I show strengthening-ribs 40X, attached to and made integralwith the outer portion of a flexible cup 40', forming part of the piston12', instead of having ribs attached to washer 13, aslshown in Fig. 2.

I do not wish to confine myself to the detailsl herein shown anddescribed, as it will readily be seen that the same might be variedmaterially without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having shown and described and claimed in other applications for LettersPatent now pending in the Patent Office thebroader features ofthecushioning means herein set forth, I do not claim the same in thisapplication.

I claim*- l 1. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles,the combination with a cylinder with suitable stuffing-box and a pistonand piston-rod, the latter adjusted to slide through said stuffing-box,of guides rigidly connected with the piston and piston-rod on that sideof the piston which is farthest removed from the stuffing-box, andguides on the interior of the cylinder adjusted to coact with aforesaidguides.

2.. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles, thecombination with a cylinder, of apiston and piston-rod adj usted totravel therein, longitudinal guides provided Yin the interior of thecylinder, guides rigidly connected with said piston-rod and piston andadj usted to coact with aforesaid guides, and

a spring for actuating said piston, the guides being placed around saidsprings.

3. In a cycle, the combination with a cylthrough sai d stu ffing-boX ,Alongitudinal guides provided in the interior of the cylinder and guidesrigidly connected with said piston-rod and pistonand adjusted to coactwith aforesaid guides, and a spring for enforcing relative slidingmovement between such coacting guides.

4. In a cycle, the combination with a head, of a post comprising anupper and a lower section capable of sliding one with reference to theother and of revolving within said head, the lower section carrying oneof the wheels, cushioning means for yieldingly resistingrelativelongitudinaldisplacements of the sections of said post, andmeans for preventing longitudinal displacement of the upper section ofthe post with reference to said head.

5. In a cycle, the combinationwith ahead, of a post comprising twosections capable of sliding one with reference to the other, cushioningmeans for yieldingly resisting such sliding movement, said post beingadapted to revolve with reference to said head, a set of ball-bearingsbetween said head and a relatively revoluble section of said post, andan- -other set of ball-bearings between said head and a section of saidpost adapted to travel longitudinally with reference to said head.

6. In a cycle, the combination with a-tubular head comprisingan upperand a lower portion'one of said portions having a larger interiordiameter than the other portion and a shoulder between said portions, ofa telescoping post having a section capable of revoluble displacementonly with reference to said head, two sets of ball-bearings between saidpost and said head, and ball-bearings inserted between said shoulder andsaid section and between aforesaid ball-bearings.

7. In a cycle, the combination with a tubular head, of a telescopingpost having a section capable of revolving only with reference to saidhead and having another section capable of sliding and of revolving withreference thereto, of one set of ball-bearings between the formersection and said head and another set of ball-bearings between thelatter section and said head, and a third set of ball-bearings betweensaid head and said post and between aforesaid sets of ball-bearings.

8. In a cycle, the combination with two frame-sections, one of saidsectionsA being adapted to travel longitudinally and to revolve withreference to the other section, of aset of ball-bearings between saidsections, guides for said ball-bearings adapted to guide the ballslongitudinally with reference to` one of said sections, another set ofball-bearings between said sections, and a guide for guiding the ballsof such other set around one of .said sections.

9. In a cycle, the combination with a tubular head comprising an upperand a lower portion one of said portions having a larger exroo IIO

terior diameter than the other portion and a shoulder between saidportions, of a telescoping post having a section capable of revolvingonly with reference to said head, a set of ball-bearingsbetween saidsection and said head, and means for detachably securing a bearing-cupof said set to said shoulder, the other bearing-cup of said set beingsecured to said telescoping post.

10. Ina cycle, the combination with two frame-sections, one of saidsections being revolubly mounted upon the other section and also adaptedto travel longitudinally with reference thereto, of two sets ofball-bearings between said sections,guides containinggrooves adaptedtoguide the balls of one of said sets longitudinally with reference toone of the sections, and guides for guiding the balls of the other setaround one of said sections.

11. In a cycle, the combination with two frame-sections, one of saidsections being revolubly mounted upon the other section and also adaptedto travel longitudinally with reference thereto, of two sets ofball-bearings between said sections, two cups between which the balls ofone of said sets are guided longitudinally with reference to one of saidsections, and a third cup for jointly with one of aforesaid cups guidingthe balls of the other set around one of said sections.

12. In a cycle, the combination with two frame-sections, one of saidsections being revolubly mounted upon the other section and also adaptedto travel longitudinally with reference thereto, of two sets ofball-bearings between said sections, two cups between which the balls ofone of said sets are guided longitudinally with reference to one of saidsections, and a third cup for jointly with one of aforesaid cups guidingthe balls of the other set around one of said sections, the cup incontact with both sets of balls being capable of sliding longitudinallywith reference to one of the sections and of revolving with reference tothe other section.

13. In a cycle, the combination with two frame-sections, one of saidsections being revolubly mounted with reference to the other section andalso adapted to travel longitudinally with reference thereto, of aninner and an outer set of ball-bearings between said sections, two cupsbetween which one of said sets is guided longitudinally, and a third cupfor confining the other set in contact with one of aforesaid cups, saidthird cup attached. to one of said sections projecting underneath theother two cups and toward the other framesection.

olubly mounted upon the other section and also adapted to travellongitudinally with reference thereto, of a continuous bearing having anannular guiding-surface and a multiplicity of longitudinalguiding-surfaces, balls in engagement with said annular and longitudinalguiding-surfaces, a bearing adjustable with reference to said annularbearingsurface, and another bearing adjustable with reference to Asaidlongitudinal bearing-surfaces.

16. In a cycle, the combination with a tubular head, of a sectional postadapted to revolve therein, said post comprising a cylinder forming itslowersection and a piston with piston-rod forming its upper section, ahandle-bar stem with handle-bar xedly secured to said piston-rod, meansfor preventing relative longitudinal displacement between such uppersection and the head and means for guiding such lower section lengthwisewith reference to such head.

17. In a cycle, having asectional frame, the combination with atelescoping member on one frame-section revolubly mounted with referenceto a member on anotherframe-section, such telescoping member comprisinga cylinder and a piston with proper piston-rod operating therein, of abearing with suitable groove attached to the piston-rod, a bearinggroove being also provided on said relatively movable member on theother frame-section, and balls interposed between said grooves andadapted to permit relative revoluble movement and to prevent relativelateral movements and relative longitudinal movement in one direction ofsaid piston-rod and said member on the other frame-section.

18. In a cycle, the combination with the steering-head, of a sectionaltelescoping steering-post adapted to revolve Within said head, suchsteering-post comprising a cylinder, a stuffing-box, a piston and asectional pistonrod adapted to connect at its upper end with thehandle-bar stem, and a clutch between the upper portion of thepiston-rod and that portion which passes through the stuffingbox.

19. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles, thecombination with a casing, of a piston adapted to travel therein, apassage being provided between said piston and said casing and adjoiningthe path of said piston, and means for regulating the operativecross-section of such passage.

20. In regulating means for cushioning de- IOO IIO

vices for cycles, the combination with a cylinder directly adjoining thepath of the piston and along its path and a grooved stud along saidgroove for adjusting the operative cross-section of said groove.

22. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles, thecombination with a cylinder, of a piston adjusted to travel therein, agroove being provided in the Wall of the cylinder directly adjoining thepath of the pislton, and a stud inserted in said groove and fillingportion of its cross-section only, the

portion of said groove not occupied by saidA stud being made of varyingcross-sections along dierent parts of the path of the piston.

23. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles, thecombination with a cylinder, of a piston adapted to travel therein, apassage being provided in the wall of the cylinder along the path of thepiston, a stud eX- tending along portion of said passage for regulatingthe operative cross-section of said passage, and means outside of thecylinder for adjusting the position of said stud.

24:. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles, thecombination with a casing, of a piston adapted to travel therein, apassage being provided between the two compartments formed on both sidesof the piston, means for partly closing said passage and comprising astud extending outside of the casing, and a stuffing-box around saidstud.

25. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles, thecombination with a casing, of a piston adapted to travel therein, a

groove being provided in the wall of the cyl` inder directly adjoiningthe path of the piston, a stud of irregular cross-section inserted insaid groove and filling portion of its crosssection only, and means foralternately holding said stud in varying positions with reference tosaid groove.

26. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles, thecombination with a casing, of a piston adapted to travel therein, a studhaving a depression upon its circumference inserted in said groove andfilling a portion of its cross-section only, and means for alternatelyholding such depression in and out of communication with the interior ofthe casing.

27. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles, thecombination with a casing, of a piston adapted to travel therein, a studhaving a depression upon one side of its circumference and havinganother side conforming in its configuration with the circumference ofthe piston, and means for alternately holding such different sides ofthe stud in positions facing the piston.

28. In regulating means for cushioningdevices for cycles, thecombination with a cylinder, of a piston adjusted to move therein, suchpiston comprising two rigid disks provided with perforations and a diskhaving an outer and an inner flexible edge secured between aforesaiddisks, such inner flexible edge being placed opposite the perforationsin aforesaid disks.

29. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles, thecombination with a cylinder, of a piston adjusted to move therein, j

between it and the piston-rod and the cylinder in one direction, andmeans for attaching said flexible disk to said perforated disk.

30. In regulating means for cushioning devices in cycles, thecombination with a cylin der, of a piston adjusted to move therein, suchpiston being adapted to permit flow of fluid around its edge in onedirection and to resist such flow in the opposite direction, a passagebeing provided for permitting flow of fluid from one side of the pistonto the other side while the piston is resisting flow around its edge,and means for ixedly adjusting the operative area of such passage.

3l. In regulating means for cushioning devices in cycles, thecombination with a cylinder, of a piston with a tubular piston-rod,whereby two compartments are formed in said cylinder, a passage beingprovided between said compartments through the wall of said piston-rod,and an automatic yalve for controlling the iiow of fluid through saidpas-- sage, a passage being also provided for permitting return flow yoffluid while said valve is in its restricting position.

32. Regulating means for cushioning devices in cycles, comprising acylinder and a piston with a tubular piston-rod, whereby twocompartments are formed in said cylinder, a passage being providedbetween said compartments laterally through the wall of said piston-rod,a ring detachably secured to the circumference of said rod, and a valvemounted upon and having its seat upon Said :ring for regulating the flowof fluid through said passage.

33. Regulating means for cushioning devices in cycles, comprising acylinder and a piston with a tubular piston-rod, whereby twocompartments are formed in said cylinder, a

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said passage, and means for regulating the position of said valve, saidvalve and regulating means being both mounted upon said.

piston-rod.

34. In regulating means for cushioning de-V vices for cycles, thecombination with a casing comprising two compartments, of a wall movablewith reference to said compartments, means for actuating said wallwhereby Huid is forced from one compartment into the other compartment,a valve for permitting flow of fluid between said compartments in onedirection only, a passage being provided above the travel of saidmovable wall for permitessere 'ting flow of fluid between saidcompartments when the valve is in its restricting position, and a poroussubstance inserted in said pas7 sage above the travel of said wall.

85. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles, thecombination with a casing comprising two compartments, of a Wall movablewith reference to said compartments, a passage being provided betweensaid compartments for permitting flow of fluid between the same, aporous substance inserted in said passage, and means for regulating theoperative cross-section of tbe portion of said passage not directlyobstructed by said porous substance.

36. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles, thecombination with a casing comprising two compartments, of a Wall movablewith reference to said compartments, a passage being provided betweensaid compartments for permitting flow of Huid between the same, acompressible porous substance inserted in said passage, and means forvarying the degree of compression imparted to such porous substance.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 25th day of February, A. D. 1901.`

CHARLES L. HORACK.

Witnesses:

WM. J. PARSONS, WM. SHAW.

